Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi

Date of Birth: 5440 (1680)
Date of Death: 10th of Tamuz, 5516 (1756)

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A Short Tribute

Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi, son of Hacham Yom Tov Elghazi, was born in 1680 in Izmir, Turkey. He studied with Hacham Haim Aboulafia and Hacham Yitzhak Hacohen Rappaport in the Izmir yeshiva as a young man. While in Izmir, he had the kabbalist book Hemdat Yamim published. Though its authorship is uncertain, some attributed it to Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi himself.

In 1735 he immigrated to the Land of Israel, where he studied at the Beth El kabbalist yeshiva. He officiated as halakhic adjudicator at Rishon LeZion Hacham Elazar Nachum's rabbinic court, as did Rishon LeZion Hacham Haim Moshe Nissim Mizrachi and Rishon LeZion Hacham Yitzchak Hacohen Rappaport, who had been his teacher in Izmir.

In 1755 Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi was appointed Rishon LeZion, and would serve in this position for his entire life. He also presided over the Neve Shalom – Brit Abraham yeshiva where the great sages of Jerusalem studied. He issued many responsa that guided his community and was among those to make the sweeping public amendments necessary to meet the Jerusalem community's needs of the period, including Al Inyan HaRavakim (On the Matter of Bachelors], and Tsimtsum Hahotsa'ot leTsarkei Motarot [Limiting Superfluous Expenses].

Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi passed away on 10 Tammuz, 5516 (1757) and was buried in the Kehal Hassidim section of the Mount of Olives, next to the tomb of Hacham Shalom Mizrachi Shar'abi, known as the RaSHa"SH.

Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi authored many books: Shalmei Tsibbur – Laws and customs, Naveh Yaakov – responsa and sermons, Ma'aneh Lashon – on the rules of the Talmud, Emet L'Yaakov – Laws governing Torah scrolls and customs pertaining to public needs, Ar'ah D'Rabbanan – Torah laws and rabbinic laws, Kehilot Yaakov – responsa on the Talmud, Magid Devarav L'Yaakov – a commentary on the Passover Haggadah, and others.

A few quotes from the Rabbi on Redemption of Israel

in which he preaches to be charitable in the very ruling of judgement, displaying the same attribute as "He will show him wondrous deeds"

"Observe what is right and do what is just; For soon My salvation shall come, And my justice be revealed." Judgement is to be charitable, and delivered within the rule of the law, displaying the same attribute as "For soon My salvation shall come and my deliverance be revealed", even as it is repeated a second time, and the ruling of the law allows that its being redeemed [the promise] not be definite. In any case, "My justice [is to] be revealed" in the teachings of justice and charity… Here is what was actually said about the future redemption: "I will show him wondrous deeds, As in the days when You sallied forth from the land of Egypt". Our Sages said in the Mechilta, "I will show the sons what I have not shown the fathers" – who will certainly not benefit from this measure, unless they make judgement itself a charitable act, meaning judgement within the rule of the law, in which case "He will show him wonders" – more than in the redemption from Egypt.

Hacham Israel Yaakov Elghazi, Maggid Devarav L'Yaakov – a commentary on the Passover Haggadah, p. 91, Jerusalem 1974 From 'The Daily Sage'